Switched On

Join Amar Vasdev, a senior associate at BNEF specializing in energy economics, and Martin Tengler, head of hydrogen research at BNEF, as they dive into the dynamic world of clean power. They highlight record-low costs of electricity from solar and wind while discussing hydrogen's unique position amidst these trends. Their conversation reveals the impact of geopolitical factors on hydrogen production, investment shifts, and the future of renewable energy economics, challenging listeners to rethink cost assessment in the evolving energy landscape.

Mark Daly, head of technology and innovation at BloombergNEF, guides a panel featuring notable guests. Steven Carlini from Schneider Electric discusses cutting-edge cooling solutions for energy-hungry data centers. Will Conkling of Google shares insights on renewable energy procurement strategies. Kleber Costa from AES Corporation addresses the challenges of growth in data centers. Lastly, Darwesh Singh from Bolt Graphics talks about GPU advancements that boost efficiency. They unpack how the rising demands from AI are reshaping energy management in this tech landscape.

Meredith Annex, Head of Clean Power at BNEF, brings her expertise to discuss the groundbreaking $2 trillion investment in the energy transition. She highlights the dominance of solar energy and the critical shift towards power grid and energy storage investments. The podcast delves into the contrasting trends in onshore and offshore wind, the emergence of small modular reactors in nuclear energy, and the underrated significance of heat pumps in decarbonizing sectors. It's a vital listen for anyone interested in the future of clean energy!

In this discussion, weather analysts Jess Hicks and Willa Tobin from BNEF explore how shifting weather patterns profoundly affect commodities and infrastructure. They dive into the economic fallout from extreme weather events, including heatwaves and droughts, and their implications for energy production. The duo also highlights innovative weather modeling techniques that could predict future trends. Additionally, they discuss the rising costs tied to climate chaos, including natural gas demand and the financial tools used to manage these risks.

Banks are still spending less money on low-carbon solutions than on fossil-fuel projects. At last count, the energy supply ratio for bank financing was just 0.89 cents of low-carbon spend for every $1 spent on fossil fuels. That’s an improvement over previous years, but with a ratio of 4:1 by 2030 required to meet a 1.5C climate scenario, the world is still a long way from hitting that target. On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by analyst Trina White, a member of BNEF’s sustainable finance team, to discuss the third annual Energy Supply Investment and Banking Ratios”. Together they discuss worldwide and local trends in energy financing, which banks have the highest energy financing ratios, and why the average ratio is still below 1:1 even though global clean energy investment has hit a new record and surpassed fossil-fuel financing for the first time. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: Third Annual Energy Supply Investment and Banking Ratios - https://www.bnef.com/insights/35765See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese wind turbine makers are expanding their global footprint at an impressive rate. Leading manufacturers like Goldwind, Envision, Mingyang and Windey are exporting their turbines at a significant discount to Western incumbents, undercutting their rivals and establishing themselves in developing economies and emerging markets. Yet while the volume of their orders has risen, significant barriers to entry remain, including low brand awareness, a limited track record outside of China and political risks that are raising red flags for buyers, lenders and insurers. So just how large is the threat these Chinese manufacturers pose to established Western companies? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Oliver Metcalfe, BloombergNEF’s Head of Wind, to discuss the note “China Wind Turbine Export Update: Momentum Builds”. Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com Links to research notes from this episode: China Wind Turbine Export Update: Momentum Builds - https://www.bnef.com/insights/35671/viewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pietro Radoia, a solar specialist at BloombergNEF, and Ryan Loughead, a sustainable finance analyst, discuss the intriguing shift of clean energy companies from public markets to private hands. They dive into the soaring valuations of these firms and the impact of rising energy demands fueled by data centers. The conversation highlights the potential of private equity as a stable funding source amid fluctuating public valuations. Key challenges like grid connection bottlenecks are addressed, showcasing the urgency for tailored financing strategies in the clean energy transition.

Albert Cheung, Deputy CEO of BloombergNEF, dives into the mixed results of clean energy in 2024, revealing record EV sales and clean power gains yet highlighting critical shortfalls in achieving net zero by 2050. He discusses five key lessons for the energy transition, addressing the challenges of insufficient investment while emphasizing the resilience of clean energy initiatives. Cheung also spotlights the urgent need for improved policies and collaboration in emerging sectors like hydrogen and offshore wind to foster a sustainable future.

Fauziah Marzuki, BloombergNEF’s Global Head of Gas Markets, shares insights on the turbulent natural gas landscape as it heads for a critical test in 2025. She emphasizes how geopolitical shifts, like the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, are affecting trade flows. The discussion highlights the surprising role of extreme weather in changing gas demand, driving unexpected price surges in summer. Fauziah also tackles the evolving LNG pricing landscape and the implications for global energy security amidst oversupply challenges.

Sami Alisawi, a geologic hydrogen expert from BNEF, and Musfika Mishi, a tech and innovation specialist at BNEF, explore the fascinating potential of gold hydrogen—an accessible, eco-friendly alternative to conventional hydrogen. They discuss its economic viability, highlighting successful case studies like a significant hydrogen find in Mali. The duo also addresses the technological hurdles in extraction and transportation, and the intriguing synergies with helium extraction that could shape the future of the hydrogen market.